You may not have heard of the medical term "bruxism" before now but chances are you know what it is... teeth grinding. Many people, both children and adults, experience bruxism - mostly at night, when they’re sleeping. Luckily bruxism is treatable, and the sooner it’s caught the better the outcomes. If left untreated, bruxism may cause serious problems.
Symptoms of bruxism include worn down teeth, including chipped or fractured teeth; tooth discomfort; jaw pain, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ); earaches; tension headaches; facial pain, tinnitus and more. Bruxism can even get so serious that it can damage dental work. Conditions that may contribute to bruxism include crooked or misaligned teeth, difficulty sleeping, and stress.
If you suspect you grind your teeth when you sleep, you may want to visit your dentist. Your dentist may...
- Recommend you wear a mouth guard while you sleep
- Reduce the high spots on one or more teeth
- Reshape the biting surfaces with crowns or inlays
If you get regular dental exams, your dentist may catch the problem before you do. If caught early, bruxism can be treated fairly easily. This medical condition is reason enough to make sure you get your regular dental exams!